Post-hole digger



(No Moiiel.

J. W. CLARK.

POST HOLE BIGGER. N0. 358,335. Patented Feb. 22, 1887.

N. PETERS. PM )Lilhnmpher, wnhingmn, I71v (L UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

JAMES W. oLAErcoE ETNA, OHIO.

POST-HOLE DIGGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 358,335, dated February22, 1887.

Application filed October 20, 1886. Serial No. 216,757. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, J AMES W. CLARK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Etna, in the county of Licking and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Post-Hole Diggers; and Ido declare the fo1- lowing to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved posthole digger; and it consistsin the novel features h ereinafter more fully described, claimed, andpointed out in the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of my improved post-hole digger. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showingthe guard adjusted upon the rod by dotted lines, and Fig. 3 is a bottomplan.

The vital point of this invention is having combined with a post-holedigger, provided with parallel blades arranged upondiametrically-opposite sides of the vertical axis or rod thereof, aguard mounted upon said rod to turn therewith in the operation ofdigging, and having a portion located on each side opposite the spacebetween the blades and acting in connection therewith to hold theremoved earth, said guard at the same time being free to have alongitudinal movement on the rod to release the earth when the digger iswithdrawn from the hole. 7

The digger shown in the drawings comprises the rod A, the handle B, andthe blades 0, which are fastened to opposite ends of the plate D,secured to the lower end of the rod A. The blades 0 are sharpened ontheir forward edges, and have their lower ends, 0, bent inward to removethe earth and retain it in place when the digger is withdrawn from thehole.

The guard comprises the head E and the arms F,which are secured to theopposite ends of the head E, and are arranged at such distance apartthat they will track in the path of the blades and act in connectiontherewith to retain the removed earth between them and said blades, in amanner well understood. The ends of the head are bent substantially atright angles, forming projections e, to which the upper ends of the armsF are secured. The arms F are made of thin metal, and are curved incross-section to conform with the circle of the hole being dug. They maybe sharpened on their forward edges or not, as preferred.

The head E is centrally apertured to permit the passage of the rod A,which is of such shape in cross-section that the head will turntherewith, but will permit it (the head) to have a longitudinal movementthereon for releasing the earth when the digger is withdrawn. The braceG, attached at each end to the opposite ends of the head and having itsmiddle portion located at a distance from said head, is centrallyapertured to permit the passage of said rod A. The aperture in saidbrace corresponds with the aperture in the head and assists ineffectinga turning of said head with the rod. It at the same time servesas a handle to be grasped by the hand when moving the guard along therod A.

In practice the weight of the head, the arms, and brace is sufficient tohold the guard at its lowest point'upon the rod when removing the earth,as willbe readily understood.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In a post-hole digger, the combination, with the rod and the bladessecured to the lower end thereof, and having the main portion thereofparallel with the rod or its prolongation, of the guard adapted to slide1011- gitudinally upon the rod, and having a portion located on eachside opposite the space between the blades, and acting in connectiontherewith to hold the removed earth, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

2. The'combinatiomwith the rod and blades having their ends curvedinward secured upon its lower end and diametrically arranged, of theguard having arms arranged to track in the path of the cutters, andmounted upon said rod to turn therewith and free to have a longitudinalmovement thereon, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination, with the post-hole digger, of the guard having armscurved on the are of a circle in cross-section, mounted on the 1 bladessecured thereto, of the guard composed rod of said digger to turntherewith, and free 3 of the head having its ends bent substantially tohave a longitudinal adjustment thereon, at right angles. and the armssecured to said I5 substantially as and for the purpose described. bentends, substantially as and for the pur- 5 4. The combination, with therod and the pose described.

blades secured thereto, of the guard mounted In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in upon the rod to turn therewith and having apresence of two witnesses. longitudinal movement thereon, and thereenforcing brace and handle secured to said I JAMES CLARK IO guard.substantially as and for the purpose \Vitnesses:

described. MAUI) AULT,

5. The combination, with the rod and the Osman VANDORN.

